Best restaurant in Basalt!! Or really in all of down valley. I love that this is a family owned place, with GREAT food and drinks and a really nice atmosphere. There is a huge bar with plenty of seating, a beautiful outdoor patio in the summer months, and the often have great meals for special events/holidays. It's the first place we bring people when they're visiting from out of town, and we typically go once every weekend! read more

Ew. So gross. They hyped up the trout so much. So gross. Don't get. Brussel sprouts where bomb though def go get those. Anyways where's the salmon or chicken at on this menu? read more

From start to finish this was a lovely experience. Attentive staff, excellent waitress and the food carefully prepared. Soup coming out and poured table side so it was piping hot for example. The owner stopped by our table a few times, casually. Such a well run establishment! I would highly recommend. read more

Delicious excellent meal. Hold your breath when the bill comes, apparently we were underdressed. Didn't realize this was such a fancy place. I will definitely be back but it will be for a special occasion next time read more

An amazing culinary experience! And the staff is wonderful. First time in months of eating out that the staff cleared the dirty plates/utensils before the next course arrived. Ordered the pork belly and watermelon salad, it was a "to die for" dish. Loved our pork chop entree, the ahi and soba noodles, and my daughter's Mac n cheese. read more

Great food! Perfectly cooked flatiron steak + well dressed wedge salad + perfectly cooked asparagus = yum! Charcuterie was spectacular! A year later, new menu, same level of perfection! Try the watermelon & pork belly salad, the fried artichoke hearts and the buratta salad! read more

While spending my birthday in Basalt we decided to come here for dinner, primarily because we had our dog with us and wanted somewhere with a patio so we could bring her as well. Wow. It was a chilly evening and they told us that it had been a few weeks since anyone had sat on the patio but they went almost over the top making sure we weren't neglected out there-- not only was our server very attentive, multiple other staff members came out throughout our dinner to check on us. Now for the food: As an starter we got the pretzel bites. Maybe I've just primarily had this at sporting events and beer halls and that's why these were so shocking, but oh my goodness. If there was ever pretzel perfection, this was it. The perfect crisp on the outside and soft chewiness on the inside, the perfect seasoning and flavors... And then dinner came out. We shared our dishes, a range burger and tikki masala curry and it was one of those rare dining experiences where the only possible regret was getting full too soon. My husband commented on the burger that it was the first time he'd ever ordered a burger that cost more than $5 and felt like it was worth it until this burger. It was truly melt in your mouth delicious, tender, flavorful. Everything one might dream a burger would be. And then we turned to the curry. How is it that with each new thing we tried they only got better? I was so full from the deliciousness of earlier in the meal that I only enjoyed a couple of bites because I knew had to save room for dessert-- pumpkin spice cheesecake with chai whipped cream? There wasn't a thing about this dining experience that was less than incredible. If you find yourself in the area, this is a restaurant that must be visited. read more

We are frequent visitors to Basalt. We had our first meal at Free Range Kitchen in July 2021--it was a succulent, flavorful, an exceptional meal and we looked forward to returning to having similar dinners again. In October, 2021 we had another delicious dinner . . . and then the move. We have only been twice since Free Range has been at its new location. The first time (March, 2022) was pretty bad, but we hoped it was a one-off. Tonight (July, 2022) was one of the worst meals we have ever had. Putting aside the confusion in getting us seated, and the things that were just OK (bao buns, tacos, skillet cookie), the smash burgers and caesar salad were inedible. The burgers were gritty and flavorless; the lettuce was actually awful. It's sad, because the restaurant was so fantastic (and we are fairly discriminating diners who know good food). We've seen this happen when other restaurants have expanded . . . and are so disappointed to have to take Free Range off our list of places we would recommend or continue to frequent. We were so stunned by the meal tonight that we looked at Yelp to see what others had said, and discovered that our experience was not unique and perhaps worth sharing with others as they make their dining choices. read more

Chef Chris is amazing. I haven't had a meal there I didn't like. The best is the shrimp tacos, the curry, and the lettuce wraps. Its a little pricey but the atmosphere and food are worth it! read more

1/29/17 Free Range is fast becoming a not to be missed restaurant in the valley. A group of 6 had dinner last night(my 4th visit)the entire table was happy with dinner, clean plates! The chicken liver pate is still as good as first visit, the ravioli special was better than any Italian restaurant. We had the steak, pork chop, chicken & fish, all spot on. The quality of Robin & Steve's locally sourced meat really shines. Affordable & very good wine list. read more

100% love this place. Always spot on. Nice wait staff and great environment to compliment amazing food.

Nice place in Basalt. We just moved to the area and enjoyed our meal- artichokes appetizer was good, nice piece of fish and fried chicken special. Very friendly service. We will make this a regular stop when we head out to dinner in CO. Cool and relaxed vibe too. read more

My family and I had the best experience at Free Range kitchen. The food was fabulous. What really made the experience top-notch was our server, Morgan. She was exceptional. She answered all of our questions and was so patient with us. She was so cheery and knew so much about the food and the wine. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

What a great restaurant in Basalt (or anywhere)! The Yelp reviews that steered us here were right on point, and I would rate this probably closer to 4.75 stars than 5 big ones, but I am rounding up because the food, cocktails, and service were all "very good to excellent. We started out with the smoked trout skillet. This was a unique dip in which you could actually taste the trout and not just cheese and horseradish. It was very tasty. They paired it with "house chips," which were good, but I think I would preferred it with a crusty bread instead (the chips plus the dip made the bites a bit too salty), but that minor quibble aside it was still delicious. In terms of mains, we had the grilled range steak and chili honey pork chop entrees. The pork chop was amazing-cooked and flavored perfectly; the accompaniments (corn tamale, black beans, and carrot chips) were well thought out and paired terrifically. This entrée is the main reason for the five star review. The hanger steak was very good as well - huge portion and perfectly cooked. We finished with a lovely piece of cheesecake. The drinks (mezcal mule, diablo rojo margarita, and basil cucumber ricky) were all well-balanced, reasonably priced, and expertly made. If skiing in Aspen-Snowmass, Free Range is definitely worth a drive up from Aspen if you're not staying near Basalt. read more

Wow we just moved here and feel super lucky to have these guys right next to us. Menu, music and atmosphere are great! Cant wait to go back read more

Avoid at all costs. One papusa was stuffed, the other wasn't and it was burnt. The bread, which should have been served with the papusas, was not; it was only served when we asked, and it was burnt. My wife's salmon dish (all of it, including the salmon) was served cold and was basically inedible. The presentation was amazingly bad: skin side up. The only response from the waiter was "sorry". And then he had the temerity to ask if we would have dessert. Disgusting. read more

The service by the employees was very good. The beet appetizer was wonderful. I could not taste any watermelon in the watermelon gazpacho. No matter what the owner's response may be, in my book, a "watermelon" gazpacho is NOT good if you can't taste watermelon. The Rocky Mountain trout entree was very disappointing. Aside from the fact that it was only lukewarm, it was a fillet, i.e., it had its head and tail cut off. This suggests that it was frozen, and not fresh. As a trout aficionado, I have traveled to Big Bear near L.A., Yellowstone, Atlanta (for their northern Georgia mountain trout), and Yosemite to enjoy trout dishes. The restaurants I went to in all these locations had great trout -- the whole fish with the head and tail on, and so succulent that I had no doubt that they were fresh. It is so sad to find that in Basalt, Colorado, so close to the world-renown Aspen and Vail, their version of trout is just a fillet, and very possibly not really fresh. My biggest surprise at this restaurant, which is otherwise garnering rave reviews, came when I tasted a chardonnay. I am a chardonnay junkie, and I have been tasting all kinds of Chardonnay from the wine-producing counties of Northern California, where I live. This bottle of chardonnay, which I had never heard of, from Santa Barbara, was sour. The owner/self-declared wine steward said that the sour, or citrusy attribute of this chardonnay was characteristic of Santa Barbara wines, although I had tasted plenty of full-bodied and buttery chardonnays (which I was looking for) from that region. The owner recommended another bottle of chardonnay which he said was full-bodied (from Carneros). It was not. He said that because there was nothing wrong about the quality of the first wine, and he had already opened the bottle, he would have to charge us or both wine bottles, to which we said fine, to be courteous. The owner might want to know that, in good restaurants, which I know his is, around the country (I was once a flight attendant and traveled to all major cities and resorts across U.S.A., and believe me, I had more chances to compare restaurants than I care to remember), usually do NOT charge their customers for what they do not like, including major chain restaurants. Whatever profit that this owner wanted to protect for that one opened bottle (how much did he pay wholesale for that one bottle anyway?), he lost a potential enthusiastic guest. read more

Great atmosphere and lovely service! Bartender Channing is wonderful and attentive. Try the pork chop and pork belly watermelon appetizer. Everything is truly delicious. Can't wait to come back! Oh and the diablo Rojo margarita so refreshing. read more

Friends invited us; others said it was hit-or-miss but our experience was all a big HIT! The cocktails were fun and tasty. Loved the soft pretzel and lamb taco apps. But the curry carrot soup AND the lamb Indian curry dish were fantastic - and our friend loved his pork chop. It was so good we ordered dessert - to with the Momofuko Crack Pie for sure. One of the best meals in the entire valley...and the best mascot! read more

Beautifully decorated. One of prettiest upscale style restaurants we have been to. Unimpressed by food. Striped bass was one of the smallest portions ever received as an entrée and unfortunately tasteless. Wine list primarily features high mark up wines in the $50-60+ range. Service was initially poor but got better as evening went on. Once seated, took over 10 minutes to get served, 15-20 minutes to get a drink. read more

Great restaurant in Basalt. Highly recommend the cowboy salad - delicious. We also tried the fried chicken which was good, but not my favorite chicken. Had a cucumber richy which was quite nice. Definitely putting this on my list of favorites in the valley. read more

Great new addition to budding Basalt dining scene. The smoked trout is off the hook - warm with horseradish and hot sauce. Gnocchi is just the right texture in a brown butter sauce and the housemade pasta was delicious too. Knowledgeable bartender, fun vibe, skip the drive up-valley and stay in Basalt for a great dinner and drinks! read more

We shared a couple small plates (lamb buns and meat/cheese tray), a couple large plates (quinoa salad, gnoche) and a desert (fried banana ice cream/crack cake). We ate every bite of every dish and it was all sooo delicious. Ate on the patio and it was a perfect evening. Wait staff was attentive but not overly so. Definitely recommend! read more

Food: Great! (From previous experiences) Walked in just as they were opening. Sat down at the bar, and waited... bartender served a gentlemen that came after us and still no greeting. No, "hi how are ya"... no menus... no water... no "I'll be with you in a second". We waited 15 minutes before walking out and as we walked out we got a "hi how are ya". Walked to Tempranillo and had immediate service with a friendly staff. Great food here too! read more

The food is delicious, great choice of wines and the service is outstanding. A really great restaurant with nice ambiance read more

It's a Locals favorite, One of those places where everyone feels welcome and the Food is Awesome! Highly recommended, come down from Aspen or over from Carbondale. read more

My new favorite restaurant in the valley. The food is phenomenal, coupled with friendly service and sleek decor... you can't go wrong! Very excited about this new addition to the area. I know I'll be dreaming of the homemade pasta, almond cake, and Stolpman Syrah for weeks to come. read more

I've been waiting to try this restaurant and finally had a chance tonight. I was too tired to eat in so decided to take out and eat in my hotel room. I ordered the sides only. The fingerlings, Brussels sprouts and the Mac and cheese. Loved everything! Portions were large so will have to finish this tomorrow morning :) read more

Excellent menu and high quality well sourced food. My wife is vegetarian and really enjoyed the restaurant. Drinks were very enjoyable. Atmosphere was great we sat outside on the porch. We look forward to returning. read more

Casual setting but the food is incredible. We had both fish dishes and each was outstanding. Friendly server and exceptional wine menu.

Dinner last night was as phenomenal as ever. Every one of our party of 5 enjoyed every bite. You are fantastically talented and your restaurant undoubtedly ranks among the best we've ever had the pleasure to experience. The flavor pairings --- AMAZING! Service --- AMAZING! So much better than anything we've experienced in Aspen in five years of living here. Consistently incredible. Thank you so much! We very much appreciate you and the experience you offer. We'll be back - again - soon! read more

Newer restaurant. Great menu. Great food. Salads are delicious and so are the pierogis. Excellent service. Will definitely be back.

Every course was fantastic and perfectly timed. The fresh and native foods were artful in presentation, delicious in taste and overall, beyond creative. Our server always made his presence and attentiveness known without interrupting the flow of conversation. AND, we always had plenty of water and hot coffee -- two signs of an excellent, skilled, experienced server! The salmon was perfectly combined with watermelon radishes and forbidden rice - WOW, what a combination! The charcuterie board is difficult to adequately describe, but a MUST have. The native cured meats and the assortment of cheeses masterfully displayed on the board, were unique to me and an absolute work of art. The desserts were mouthwatering and each were a must -have, especially the Honeycomb...no words. Yes, I had a bite of each. I cannot say enough about this place. I left feeling like they cared about their product and my experience from the moment I walked in with the lighting and exposed beams to each course and it's artful display to the kindness of each employee. See photos, although they do not do justice. Free Range is an experience, not just a meal. read more

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Absolutely awesome meal, service and vibe. Loved this place! Visited three times in two weeks. If I lived anywhere near Basalt I'd be keeping this place in business. Unique but accessible menu. Awesome flavors. Great wine selection. read more

What a wonderful addition to downtown Basalt. Our experience at Free Range was great. The menu is diverse, offering burgers to steaks. The appetizer menu was extensive, making it a great place to go for a few small bites and a drink at the bar. We ordered the chicken liver pate, smoked trout, and fried cheese appetizers. All delicious. The brown butter gnocchi was amazing! The wine list was impressive and Steve was amazing in helping us choose a good wine for our meal. The staff was attentive. I highly recommend FR Kitchen! read more

Just finished a fabulous dinner here with a large party of 16. Great time, excellent service, and savory food. Favorite was the momofuku desert - off the chats good. We ended up ordering 6 for the table. read more

The food is absolutely delicious, all locally sourced and high quality ingredients. The staff are so friendly and very attentive. The restaurant is beautifully laid out and nicely decorated. I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you are in the area. read more

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The house cabernet tasted like a $100 bottle. The smoked trout appetizer and hand made pastas were divine. I'm already choosing my dishes for my next visit! read more

Great new restaurant. Steve and his wife Robin have years of experience in the business and it shows. The atmosphere is pleasant and the food is very good. I had the burger and it was delicious. read more

This place was recommended by locals who are our friends. So when we were served a Rare $45 Ny Strip that was RARE , and asked for medium rare..... we were disappointed! Medium Rare meant RARE! Only excuse was..... Sorry? If you have another choice to go to..... go! read more